US2121186A

US2121186A - Opening of collapsed shells of slide and shell containers

Info

Publication number: US2121186A
Application number: US111420A
Authority: US
Inventors: Crighton John
Original assignee: AMF Inc
Current assignee: AMF Inc
Priority date: 1935-11-20
Filing date: 1936-11-18
Publication date: 1938-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 1955-06-21

Description

June 21, 1938. 2,121,186

OPENING OF COLLAPSED SHELLS 0F SLIDE AND SHELL CONTAINERS J. CRIGHTON Filed Nov. 18, 1936 2 Sheets-Shee t 1,

M Irv 7 4AM W W S n v i W J. CRIGHTON June 21, 1938.

OPENING OF COLLAFSED SHELLS 0F SLIDE AND SHELL CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 18, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 21, 1938 PATENT OFFICE OPENING OF COLLAPSED SHELLS F SLIDE AND SHELL CONTAINERS John Crighton, London, England, assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, New York, N. Y.-, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 18, 1936, Serial No. 111.420

4 In Great Britain November 20, 1935 13 Claims.

I This invention relates to the packin'gs for cigarettes and other articles of the type wherein the packing comprises a slide and shell, and the invention has particular reference to the shell opening or erecting mechanism by which a collapsed shell is opened or erected ready for the insertion of a loaded slide.

Prior constructions of shell opening or erecting means have involved more or less complicated mechanism requiring a number of operations and it is an object of the present invention to provide improved and simplified mechanism in which the number of operations to effect an opening or erection of the shell is reduced to a minimum. 15 According to the invention, the shell opening means comprises a plurality of co-operating elements which are mounted for rotation and said elements are coupled to a reciprocating operating bar or member whereby movement of said rotary elements to eifect opening of the shell is eifected by a single movement of said operating member. The invention consists in a method of opening collapsed shells of slide and shell containers, com-- prising imparting an initial bending movement to the short sides of the shell about the crease lines and towards the broad sides while preventing an opening movement of said broad sides and continuing the bending movement while permitting a free movement of the broad sides away from one another.

The invention also consists in means for opening collapsed shells of slide and shell containers comprising a pluralityof co-operating shell engaging devices mounted for rotation and means for actuating said devices comprising a reciprocating member operatively coupled to said elements.

The shell engaging devices may be rotated by pinions meshing wtih a reciprocating rack bar.

The invention also consists in means for opening collapsed shells of slide and shell containers comprising a table or support for the collapsed shell, a pivotally mounted shell engaging element located adjacent one edge of the table and forming a stop for locating the shell on the table, a pivotally mounted shell engaging element. adjacent the opposite edge of the table and adapted to impart an erecting or opening movement to 50 the shell and means for rotating said elements.

Further features of the invention will be hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 is a side view of a shell opening ma- 55 chine according to the invention.

Figures 1a and lb are diagrams showing certain steps in the opening of a shell. a

Figure 2 is a plan correspondingto Figure 1, certain parts being left out.

Figure 3 is a partial elevation showing the 5 essential parts in thefshell opened position.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode a stationary table or support i0 is provided onto which the collapsed shells are adapted to be fed from a stack or magazine Ii. The lowermost shell is fed from the stack by means of a reciprocating feeding tooth l2 which is mounted upon a carriage l3 connected by a link It to a pivoted lever I5. The lever is oscillated by a crank disc I 6 to which it is connected by a rod l1.

The direction of feed of the collapsed shells is at right angles to the axis of the shell.

When in position on the table the collapsed shell lies so that the narrow wall l8 at the leading edge 1. e. to the right as seen in Figure 1a lies uppermost and the corresponding wall l9 at the trailing edge lies beneath.

Associated with the table III are three elements 20, 2|, 22 which are mounted to rotate upon axes lying parallel to the walls of the shell, 1. e. at right angles to the direction of feed. The elements 2| and 20 are of angular form and are located adjacent the forward and rear ends of the table respectively. The element which forms a resi1ient'80 abutment 22 is pivotally mounted upon a bracket 23 conveniently carried by the forward wall 24 of the magazine. The abutment element 22 lies above the element 20 and is provided with a tail portion 25 normallyabutting against a stop pin 26 by means of the returning spring 21.

The element 20 (referred to hereinafter as the shell erecting element) is of angular form having walls 20a. and 20b which are substantially at right angles. The shell erecting element 20 is pivotally mounted on an axis beyond the end of the table Ill but in the plane of the top of the table. For this purpose the element is mounted upon an arm 28 having a boss 29 fixed upon a spindle 30 which is carried in bearings l l in a bracket 32. Normally the shell erecting element 20 lies with the long wall 20a. downwardly inclined and with the short wall 20b projecting upwardly, the nose 32, however, lying beneath the plane of the table so that it offers no obstruction to the feeding of the shells.

The element 2| (hereinafter referred to as the shell locating element) is also oi angular form having walls Ma. and 2") which enclose an acute angle. The longer wall 2la overlaps the end of the table with the shorter wall projecting downwardly. This element is pivotally mounted on an axis coinciding with the apex of the angle formed by the walls 2k: and 2"), such axis being somewhat below the plane of the table.

The upper surface of the table adjacent the shell locating element 2| is inclined downwardly at Ma so that on insertion of a collapsed shell the edge will engage the wall Ma and be directed downwardly until such edge engages in the angle between the walls 210., 2lb in which positionthe narrow wall I! of the shell will be bent out of alignment with the upper broad wall 33 of the shell as indicated diagrammatically in Figure la.

The shell locating element 2| is adapted to be rotated and is carried by an arm ll mounted upon a spindle 25 carried in bearings 32 in the bracket 31.

when a collapsed shell is in position on the table its rear edge it lies substantially vertically above the angle 01 the shell erecting element 20. The narrow wall I! at this end of the shell lies beneath and. the hinge crease line 2! lies adjacent or coincident with the axis of rotation of the shell erecting element 20.

The abutment element 22 normally lies so that its edge 22a will lie above the crease line it or an inserted shell and in engagement with the broad wall 32 against which it is pressed by the spring 21.

Rotation of the shell erecting elements 20 and the shell locating element 2! is eflected by means of pinions 40, H of which Al is mounted upon the spindle 30 while 4| is tree on the spindle 35 but is provided with a projection or tooth 42 adapted for engagement with a projection or tooth 42 on the spindle 2!.

The pinions mesh with a rack bar ll having racks l5, 46. The rack bar 44 is guided for reciprocation and is connected by a link 41 to a pivoted lever 48 having a roll 40 which engages a rotary cam 50. The return movement of the rack bar is eilected by the spring 5|.

The provision of the co-operating teeth l2, l2 permits a delay in the rotary movement 0! the shell locating element 2i and in order to hold the element in its normal position with its wall 21a engaging or closely adjacent the upper surface of the table, the spindle 25 is provided with an arm 52 to which a spring 62 is attached. the other end of the spring being anchored on a pin 54.

In operation, a collapsed shell is fed onto the Q table I II until the leading edge engages in the angle of the locating element 2|; In this position the iorward edge of the shell is bent downwardly in a position in which the upper narrow wall It is bent about the crease line I relatively to the upper broad wall 22 as indicated in Figure 1a. At the trailing end the edge 22a of the abutment element 22 which is located at a distance from the table substantially equal to the thickness of the collapsed shell engages the wall 32 immediately above the crease line 29. On the cam 50 operating, the rack bar 44 is moved to the left (Figure 1).

This rotates the pinions l0 and ll. The rotation oi pinion 40 causes the erecting element 20 to rotate andengage the wall I! of the shell and bend up said wall about the crease line 29 against the pressure 0! the element 22 (see Figure lb). Continued movement of shell erecting element 20 brings the nose 32 into engagement with abutment element 22 whereby the latter is lifted clear 01' the opening shell and permitting the wall 32 to rise away from the lower broad wall it. It is to be noted that the wall 20b of the shell erecting element is spaced from the axis of rotation a distance equal to the wall I! (see Figure 3). 7

During the initial movement of the pinion ll no movement of the locating element 2| occurs, until the

projections

42, 43 engage whereupon the element is rotated to permit the wall it of the shell to open away from the lower wall 58.

The elements 20, 2| continue their rotary movement until the shell is finally erected as indicated in Figure 3, whereupon the opened or erected shell is removed by any suitable means, by a movement in the direction of its length.

The parts then return to their original position ready for the insertion of another collapsed shell. Instead of a rack and pinion drive for rotating the elements 20, 2|, the latter may be provided with any well known or suitable operating device ior producing the desired movement.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of opening collapsed shells oi! slide and shell containers, comprising imparting an initial bending movement to the short sides of the collapsed shell about the crease lines andtoward the broad sides by advancing the collapsed shell positively against an opposed gradually retiring force, while preventing initially an opening movement of said broad sides and then permitting an initial opening movement of the upper broad side and concurrently applying a bending force at the trailing creased edge joint of said shell, to erect said trailing edge, while permitting .a free movement of the broad sides away from one another, and thereby erecting positively the remote short edge or the partly opened shell against said constantly opposed retiring force.

2. Means for opening collapsed shells of slide and shell containers, comprising a plurality of co-operating shell-engaging devices mounted for rotation, means to rotate one oi said devices upward toward a short side of the shell, and means to rotate the other device upward and away from the opposite short side of the shell, whereby said rotatable .devices are adapted to apply oppositely directed erecting forces against the short sides of said collapsed shells substantially.

throughout the period of effective erection, and means for actuating said device rotating means comprising a reciprocating member operatively coupled to said elements.

3. Means for opening collapsed shells of slide and shell containers, having the features claimed in claim 2, in which said means for rotating said devices comprises a pinion on each of said rotating devices. and a rack common to both oi! said pinions, and means for reciprocating said rack.

4. Means for opening collapsed shells of slide and shell containers, comprising a support for the collapsed shell, a pivotally mounted shell engaging element located adjacent one edge of the support and forming a stop for locating the shell on the support, a pivotally mounted shell engaging element adjacent the opposite edge of the support and adapted to impart an erecting movement to the shell and means for rotating both of said elements, each acting to exert erectlve pressure progressively against one of said edges.

5. Means for opening collapsed shells of slide and shell containers, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shell locating element is pivoted on an axis below the plane of the support and partially overlaps the support whereby the collapsed shell is given an initial downwardly bending movement about the crease line of the adjacent narrow wall of the shell.

6. Means for opening collapsed shells of slide and shell containers, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shell locating element is pivoted on an axis below the plane of the support and partially overlaps the support whereby the collapsed shell is given an initial downwardly bend ing movement about the crease line of the adjacent narrow wall of the shell and wherein a pivoted abutment element is provided adapted to engage the upper surface of the collapsed shell at a point coinciding with the crease line of the trailing narrow wall ofthe shell, said element providing an abutment whereby the shell is given an upward bend about said crease line when the shell erecting element is rotated.

7. Means for opening collapsed shells of slide and shell containers, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shell locating element is pivoted on an axis below the plane of the support and partially overlaps the support whereby the collapsed shell is given an initial downwardly bending movement about the crease line of the adjacent narrow wall of the shell and wherein a pivoted abutment element is provided adapted to engage the upper surface of the collapsed shell at a point coinciding with the crease line of the trailing narrow wall of the shell, said element providing an abutment whereby the shell is given an upward bend about said crease line when the shell erecting element is rotated, said abutment element being spring pressed and being moved clear of the shell after said upward bending movement by the engagement therewith or a projection on the shell erecting element.

8. Means for opening collapsed shells of slide and shell containers as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shell engaging elements are of angular form, the angle of the shell locating element being acute while that of the shell erecting element is substantially a right angle.

9. Means for opening collapsed shells of slide and shell containers as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shell locating element and the shell erecting element are mounted upon spindles provided with pinions meshing with a rack element and means for reciprocating said rack element to impart rotary movements to the shell engaging elements.

10. Means for opening collapsed shells of slide and shell containers as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shell locating element and the shell erecting element are mounted upon spindlesprovidedwith pinions meshing with a rack element and means for reciprocating said rack element to impart rotary movements to the shell engaging elements and wherein lost motion means are provided between the shell locating element and its pinion, whereby the rotation of said element is delayed until the shell erecting element has imparted a bending up movement to the associated narrow wall of the shell.

11. Means for opening collapsed shells of slide and shell containers as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shell locating element and the shell erecting element are mounted upon spindles provided with pinions meshing with a rack element and means for reciprocating said rack element to impart rotary movements to the shell engaging elements wherein the rack is reciprocated by rotary cam controlled means.

12. Means for opening collapsed shells of slide and shell containers as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shell locating element and the'shell erecting element are mounted upon spindles provided with pinions meshing with a rack element and means for reciprocating said rack element to impart rotary movements to the shell engaging elements wherein the rack is reciprocated by rotary cam controlled means and wherein the collapsed shell is led to the support by a reciprocating tooth feed operated from a crank actuated by said cam shaft.

13. A method'of opening collapsed shells of slide and shell containers, comprising the step of applying an advancing erective force against one creased edge of the collapsed shell, and applying an opposed gradually retiring erective force against the oppositely facing creased edge of the collapsed shell, and continuing the application of said opposed advancing and retiring erective forces progressively until the shell is completely erected.

7 JOHN CRIGHTON.